Frequently asked questions about audiobooks

Cancelling your audiobook subscription

Absolutely! You can cancel at any time without restrictions. To cancel your subscription, sign in on kobo.com and click My Account. Then, select My Subscriptions, where you’ll be able to cancel.

What happens to the audiobooks in my library if I cancel my subscription?

Nothing! Once you’ve exchanged a credit for an audiobook, it belongs to you for good, even if you cancel your subscription.

What happens to my unused credits if I cancel my subscription?

Once you cancel your audiobooks subscription, any unused credits will remain active for six months beginning from your cancellation date. This means you’ll have six months to exchange each credit for an audiobook from our catalogue. After six months, any remaining credits left in your account will expire.

Can I get a refund for a credit?

No, audiobook credits are non-refundable. If you cancel your subscription, you will have six months to use any remaining credits.

General audiobook questions

Are Kobo audiobooks available to customers everywhere?

Currently, audiobooks are available to Kobo customers living in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

What languages are audiobooks available in?

We currently offer audiobooks in English and French.

How large are audiobook files?

The size of an audiobook file will depend on its length. On average, audiobook files are 28 MB per hour, and most audiobooks run for approximately 10 hours, or 280 MB. The longer your audiobook is, the larger the file will be. We recommend downloading your audiobook files over Wi-Fi to avoid incurring charges on your mobile data plan.

What’s the difference between an abridged audiobook and an unabridged one?

Abridged audiobooks are edited versions of the original text that make for a shorter listening experience. Unabridged audiobooks contain the full text, word for word, without any cuts.

What is the file format of an audiobook?

Audiobooks from Kobo are in MP3 or MP4 format.

Does my audiobook come with an eBook version?

Although most audiobooks in our catalogue have an eBook equivalent, both versions are sold separately.

Why are audiobooks priced more than eBooks?

Although the text in both formats are often identical, audiobooks typically cost more than eBooks due to additional production costs. Please note that prices for audiobooks and eBooks are set by publishers, and not by Kobo.

My audiobook refers to pictures or other additional content. Where do I find those?

Supplemental materials for audiobooks are not available at this time. We’re working to add them as soon as possible.

About audiobook subscriptions

Why should I subscribe to audiobooks?

Audiobook subscription packages offer tremendous savings towards your favourite type of storytelling. Exchanging credits will cost you less than audiobooks’ regular listed prices. The more credits you get with your subscription plan, the more you’ll save. With the free Kobo App for Android or iOS, you’ll have everything you need: one app for all for your stories, eBooks and audiobooks together.

What’s the difference between buying an individual audiobook from the Kobo store and exchanging a credit for one as a subscriber?

To put it simply, the difference is savings.

Let's say you’re interested in an audiobook with a list price of $24.95. You can buy it from Kobo right away. But if you’re a subscriber, you can exchange your monthly credit worth $12.99 for the same book, for a savings of $11.96.

Of course! If you’ve already exchanged a credit for an audiobook and finished listening to it, you can purchase three instant credits to top up your balance. You can also purchase the audiobook directly from our catalogue.

Am I eligible for the free 30-day trial*?

The free 30-day trial is contingent on your registration complete with payment and billing information, and your free audiobook is yours to keep, even if you cancel before the trial is complete. If you cancel and later decide to reactivate your subscription, you will not be eligible for a second 30-day trial.

Note: *Residents of Quebec are given a bonus free audiobook in their first month in place of a free 30-day trial.

Do I need to be a subscriber to purchase an audiobook?

No, you can purchase audiobooks from our catalogue the same way you would purchase an eBook from Kobo.

How many credits do I need to exchange for an audiobook?

One credit = one audiobook. It’s that simple!

Do I need to be a subscriber to purchase an audiobook?

No, you can purchase audiobooks from our catalogue the same way you would purchase an eBook from Kobo.

However, if you are an avid audiobook listener, we recommend a subscription. Subscribers exchange credits towards audiobooks in the Kobo catalogue and save money off the list price.

What's the difference between Kobo store credit and an audiobook credit?

Kobo store credits are different from audiobook credits. You cannot use Kobo store credits to redeem audiobooks.

You cannot use Kobo Super Points to purchase an audiobook subscription.

Can I earn Kobo Super Points on audiobook purchases or subscriptions?

You’ll earn Kobo Super Points every time you buy an audiobook directly from our catalogue. If you have a subscription, you’ll earn Kobo Super Points every time you’re billed, or on the purchase of three instant credits to top up your balance.

Kobo Super Points are not earned when you exchange a credit for an audiobook, because your points will have already been issued with your recurring billing charge.

If I top up my credit balance with three instant credits, will they count towards my monthly or yearly credits?

No, the three instant credits simply top up your balance, so you can exchange them for more audiobooks than your subscription allows.

Can I purchase three instant credits without a subscription?

No, instant credits are only offered to audiobook subscribers to top up their credit balance. Without a subscription, you can purchase audiobooks directly from our catalogue.

Account and billing

What payment methods do you accept?

For monthly subscription plans, we currently accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express. For annual plans offering instant credits, we also accept gift cards, PayPal, Visa Checkout or store credit for either full or partial payments. We will still require your credit card information on file even if using a different payment method for an annual subscription plan.

Can I use a gift card to purchase an audiobook?

You can use a gift card to purchase an audiobook directly from our catalogue. Gift cards cannot be used to cover the cost of audiobook subscriptions.

Why am I required to add credit card information for a free trial*?

Free trials are only offered as part of a subscription plan. We require your credit card information to cover your recurring subscription charges once the free trial is complete.

*Residents of Quebec are given a bonus free audiobook in their first month in place of a free 30-day trial.

Your mailing address is required as part of your billing information so that we can accurately charge sales tax based on where you live.

Can I gift an audiobook credit or subscription to a friend?

No, this is not a service we can provide at this time.

Where can I view my audiobook purchase history?

Sign in on kobo.com and click My Account. Then, select Purchase History. You’ll see a list of all of your Kobo purchases, including audiobooks purchased directly from our catalogue, or ones you exchanged credits for with a subscription.

Can I redeem my Kobo Super Points for an audiobook as a reward?

Yes, you can redeem Kobo Super Points for audiobooks as well as eBooks, once you’ve earned a minimum of 2400 points. You’ll earn Kobo Super Points every time buy an audiobook directly from our catalogue or are billed for your subscription, or on the purchase of three instant credits to top up your balance.

Listening to audiobooks

You can also pair your smartphone or tablet to a Bluetooth-enabled speaker (or similar model) in your home or car, or send it to your Mac computer or Apple TV using AirPlay, and so on.

First, make sure you’ve downloaded your audiobook to your device.

To download an audiobook, tap its cover in the Kobo App for Android or iOS. The cover will appear darker for a moment while the download process begins. When the cover returns to normal, you’ll see a Ready to Play notification, and can start listening while the rest of your audiobook downloads to your device. Tap the cover to instantly launch the player.

Apple smartphones or tablets (iPhone, iPad, and 6th generation iPod Touch) that support iOS 9 or later

Audiobooks cannot be played:

in Kobo Desktop

in the Kobo App for Windows or Blackberry

on Kobo Arc 7, 7HD or 10HD tablets

on any Android devices with versions lower than version 4.4 (versions 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 are not supported)

on Kobo eReaders

on other brands of eReaders

Note: Kobo Audiobooks can only be played on the Kobo App.

I can’t buy anything in my Kobo App for iOS. Why not?

Due to an agreement between Kobo and Apple, the Kobo App for iOS doesn’t include our store. If you use an iOS smartphone or tablet, you’ll need to purchase (or exchange a credit for) your audiobook on kobo.com. Once your transaction is complete, your audiobook will then appear in your Kobo App for iOS.

Where can I find my audiobook after I’ve made a purchase?

Once you’ve made your purchase, just open your Kobo App for Android or iOS while connected to Wi Fi. Your newly purchased audiobook will appear in your app.

A note for iOS users: because the Kobo App for iOS doesn’t include our store, you’ll need to purchase (or exchange a credit for) your audiobook on kobo.com. Once your transaction is complete, your audiobook will then appear in your Kobo App for iOS.

Can I listen to an audiobook on my laptop or desktop computer?

No, audiobooks are only available in the Kobo App for Android or iOS smartphones or tablets.

What’s the difference between an abridged audiobook and an unabridged one?

Abridged audiobooks are edited versions of the original text that make for a shorter listening experience. Unabridged audiobooks contain the full text, word for word, without any cuts.

Do I need to wait for my audiobook to fully download before I can start listening?

To download an audiobook, tap its cover in the Kobo App for Android or iOS. The cover will appear darker for a moment while the download process begins. When the cover returns to normal, you’ll see a Ready to Play notification, and can start listening while the rest of your audiobook downloads to your device.

No. Kobo audiobooks are stored within your smartphone or tablet’s internal storage, not streamed over the air. You can even listen while offline. However, downloading an audiobook to your device may consume data. We recommend downloading over Wi-Fi to avoid incurring charges on your mobile data plan.